Texas police recruit gay officers through YouTube clip

The Fort Worth Police Department has launched a new effort to make inroads with the city’s gay community

By Andrea Lucia
CBS DFW

FORT WORTH, Texas — The Fort Worth Police Department has launched a new effort to make inroads with the city’s gay community.

It is the latest attempt to mend a dept rift between the city’s officers and the LBGT community following the 2009 police raid of the Rainbow Lounge. Two people were injured in the incident and it sparked several police protests. Five years later, the department’s approach has changed and a new video meant to help recruit gay officers is the latest sign of that.

“We want to reflect the population of the City of Fort Worth. We have LGBT citizens. We need LGBT officers,” said Corporal Tracey Knight, who is the department’s designated liaison to the LGBT community. As a gay officer herself, she’s seen drastic changes since the department’s controversial raid of Rainbow Lounge.